Switch operating means



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March 2, 1954 w. J. WEINFURT 2,671,141

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SWITCH OPERATING MEANS Filed Aug. 51, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN T 0R.

March 2, 1954 w. J. WEINFURT SWITCH OPERATING MEANS Filed Aug. 31, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

March 2, 1954 w. J. W E|NFURT 2,671,141 SWITCH OPERATING MEANS IN V EN TOR.

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SWITCH OPERATING MEANS Filed Aug. 31, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

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SWITCH OPERATING MEANS iled Aug. 31, 1949 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 1 3 I 30 L M iii 8 1 25 a r x n I; Z a \53 u 5 /f\ I :/8 2/ I 2/46 J a R y; I I Q 5 1 B j? Z 56 32 1E4 37 I 3/ Patented Mar. 2, 1954 2,671,141 SWITCH OPERATING MEANS William J. Weinfurt, Wauwatosa, to McGraw Electric Company,

of Delaware Wis., assignor a corporation Application August 31, 1949, Serial N 0. 113,273

Claims.

This invention relates to a switch construction.

Objects of this invention are to provide a switch construction which is so made that it will have not only a quick opening motion but also a quick closing motion and which is arranged for remote control through automatic means.

Further objects are to provide a switch construction which, though primarily intended for remote control, may nevertheless be operated manually in the event the remote control circuit becomes inoperative, and which, when operated manually, is free of any hampering or disturbing effect from the remote control or automatic operating means.

The switch forming the subject matter invention, though capable of many uses, is primarily intended for use as a capacitor switch for power factor correction. In switching capacitors, it is well known that when the capacitor is uncharged and is connected to a power line, the in-rush of current is enormous as the effect for an instant, at least, is the same as a dead shortcircuit.

Various schemes have been tried to prevent damage to the switch mechanism due to this in-rush of current and this invention is designed to provide a switch which, when operated automatically, closes with such speed that there is substantially no damage to the contacts in switching a capacitor into the circuit.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figurel is a view of the assembled switch unit.

Figure 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, such view showing the of this automatic operating means and not showing any portion of the switch located rearwardly of such .means as viewed in Figure 2.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view partly broken away showing a portion of the automatic operating means.

Figures 5 and 6 are sectional views on the lines 5-5 and |i6 of Figure 4.

Figure '7 is a wiring diagram for the automatic control circuit of the switch.

Figure 8 is a plan view partly in section of the switch.

Figure 9 is a sectional view approximately on the line 99 of Figure 8, showing the switch closed.

Figure 10 is a sectional view approximately on the line |0|0 of Figure 8, showing the parts in switch open position.

Figure 11 is a sectional view showing the lower portion of the structure with the switch in open position.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the device comprises a housing or casing consisting of a lower casing member and an upper cover or casing member 2 from which project the terminals 3. The device is supported from any suitable support by means of a bracket indicated at 4 in Figure 1.

Switch means indicated generally by the reference character 5, see Figures 3, 9, 10 and 11 is interposed between the terminals 3. This switch means consists of an open-ended and open bottom casing 6 formed of insulating material and carrying stationary contacts and pivotally carrying movable contacts 8. These movable contacts 8 are carried by levers 9 which are pivoted as indicated at l0 and which are electrically joined by means of the conducting, resilient member The inner ends of the levers 9 are slotted as indicated at I2 and a pin l3 carried by the insulating portion M of the vertically, reciprocable plunger fits within these slots and serves to actuate the movable contacts when the plunger is raised or lowered. The upper end of the plunger is provided with a pair of spaced, metal extensions |5 between which the lower end of a connecting link I6 is pivoted. The upper end of the link l6 carries a transversely extending pin i1, one end of which is pivoted in the arm |8 of a bell crank lever whose other arm is indicated at I!) in Figures 3 and 10. The pin l1 projects from the side of the link l6 opposite that of the lever l8 and is provided with a fiat face 20, see Figures 3 and 10. The pin l! is arranged to be latched by means of a spring pressed latching lever or latch member 2| which is provided with a shoulder 22 below which the upper corner portion of the pin I1 is retained. The latch 2| is pressed in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 by means of a spring 23. It is provided with a lower foot or extension 24 which is adapted to be tripped or depressed by means hereinafter described.

The plunger I4 is urged upwardly by means of a pair of relatively heavy tension springs 25, see Figures 3, 9, 10, and 11. These tension springs have their lower ends hooked over a pin 26 and their upper ends hook into the arms of a bracket member 27 carried by the cover 2 of the housing, see Figure 9. If desired, a bearing block which may be formed of insulating material and which is indicated at 28, may be employed to provide an extensive bearing surface for the pivot pin 29 of the latch lever 2| in view of the fact that a switch is opened by the power means, the crank 55 occupies the position shown in Figure 2, which is just to the left of dead center as viewed in Figure 2. In order to prevent reverse rotation of the main gear 43 and the gear train, a stop 60 carried by the main gear 43 is arranged to pass just beyond a latching spring finger see Figure 2, so that the spring finger moves inwardly as viewed in Figure 2 and prevents reverse rotation of the main gear 43, although such gear is urged in that direction by the spring 51.

It is to be noted that the cranks 55 and 54 are in the position shown in Figure 4, almost opposite each other, that is to say, they lie in substantially the same plane. This is the relation of the cranks 55 and 54 during the power driven opening stroke of the switch. Obviously if the switch were manually opened, the lever 59, see Figure 4, would merely rock downwardly and thus depress and rock the lever or crank 54 downwardly without imparting any rotation to the shaft 46 as the slot 52 would allow rotation of the hub 53 of the lever 54 freely without engagement of the pin5| by the hub 53. During power opening, however, the pin 5| engages the now upper end of the slot 52 as shown in Figures 4 and 5, such figuresbeing line drawings.

Assume that the switch has been opened by the remote control power means. The crank 55 extends downwardly but has not yet passed dead center as shown in Figure 2 and the crank or lever 54 similarly has not quite passed dead center as it is substantially opposite the lever 55 under these conditions. However, upon energization of the motor 42 to close the switch such motor rotates in the same direction as that in which it previously rotated and consequently drives the main gear 43 in a counter-clockwise direction and rocks the crank 55 past dead center. The spring 51, see Figure 2, when carried from the position shown in Figure 2 to the right of dead center as viewed in such figure, causes a quick counterclockwise rotation of the crank 55 and consequently causes a quick counter clockwise rotation of the crank 54. In view of the fact that the crank 54 is connected to the lever 59, see Figure 4, by means of the link 62, it is obvious that the lever 59 is rocked upwardly with a quick motion and consequently the switch means is closed with a quick motion.

It is to be noted also that after the switch has been closed by the power means, that the pin 5|, see Figure 4 and Figure 5, will be free to move in the slot 52. Consequently, if it now becomes desirable to open the switch manually, such opening may be freely accomplished as there is no hindrance to forward rotation of lever 54 It is to be noted particularly that the switch may be manually opened or closed as previously described without any hindrance to such operations due to the presence of the power driven remote control operating mechanism.

It is to be understood that the motor 42 is a unidirectional motor and that it is controlled in any suitable manner as by means of a contact making voltmeter or other suitable means indicated generally by the reference character 63, see Figure 7. Also it is apparent that the selector and limit switch means 45 will allow the motor 42 to rotate the main gear 43 selectively in half revolutions. Further than this, it is to be noted that the holding switch means indicated generally at 46 is so arranged that it temporarily closes a circuit which bridges both the selector or limit of the cams .revolution of 'tion provides absolute freedom switch means 45 and the contact making voltmeter means 63. This bridging through the action of the holding switch 46 occurs a brief instant after the contact making voltmeter 63 has initiated the rotation of the motor 42 and continues until the motor has driven the main gear 43 through its selected half revolution. At the time that the half revolution of the main gear 43 is completed the bridging switch means 46 automatically opens due to the arrangement 44 carried by the main gear 43. In possible to insure the complete half the main gear 43 although the contact making voltmeter may close only a relatively brief interval and may again open due to jarring, for instance, or for other causes.

It is to be noted particularly that this invenfor the manual operation of the switch independently of any action of the power driven remote control switch this Way it is operating means.

Further than this, it is to be noted particularly that a simple unidirectional, nonreversing type of electric motor may be employed.

The independence of the manual operation of the switch permits its manual operation in the event the remote control circuit becomes defective from any cause whatsoever and thus allows for the emergency operation of the apparatus without any alteration of the electrical connections or of the mechanism whatsoever.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. A switch construction comprising switch means, a rock shaft operatively connected to said switch means for causing opening and closing of said switch means when rotated in switchopening and switch-closing directions, respectively, manual means connected to said shaft and power driven means each operatively coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft in either direction, said power driven means including quick motion mechanism for imparting a quick rotation to said shaft in a switch-closing direction and including a second shaft rotated in one direction only by said power driven means and connected with said rock shaft by crank and link mechanism and including coupling means connecting said rock shaft and said power driven means for allowing movement of said manual means independently of said power driven means.

2. A switch construction comprising switch means, a rock shaft operatively connected to said switch means for causing opening and closing of said switch means when rotated in switchopening and switch-closing directions, respectively, manual means connected to said shaft and power driven means each operatively coupled to said shaft for rotating said shaft in either direction, said power driven means including quick motion mechanism for imparting a quick rotation to said shaft in a switch-closing direction and including a second shaft rotated in one direction only by said power driven means and connected with said rock shaft by crank and link mechanism and including coupling means connecting said rock shaft and said power driven means for allowing movement of said manual means independently of said power driven means, said manual means and said power driven 52 674 ,in i

'operatively "connected to said swtich means for losing said sv'riteh means, a trip -normally restrainin'g *s'aid 'switchmean's against opening motion, means operated from said rock shaft' for tripping said trip, a power; driven rotary shaft,

motor means for rotating said shaft -through{approximately half revolutions, selector switch means "foncontrolling the 'rotation of said power shaft through half revolutions, afirst crankca'riid by s'aid rock shaft, "spring mearisconnected to said first crank and'being arranged to store energy when said "first crank 'is moved through a first 'h'ali' "revolution, an ove'rrunnin'g 'cl'utch -haying approximately a one-half 'r'evolutio'nfree rotation operativ'el'y interposed betweensaidmotofm'eans and said shaft, asecond crank carried by said shaft, a second oveirunning lut'chinteiposed between 'said second crank and said shaft and having ap'pr'mrim'ately a half revolution free rotation, and link-workmeenanisrn op- T 'era'tively connecting "said second "crank and said rock "shaft.

4. 'A switch c'onstrurition "comprising switch means biased towards closed position, a rock shaft o'perativelyconnected to said switch-means Q for closing said switch means, a trip normally restraining said switch means against opening motion, means operated fromsaid rock shaft'for tripping said trip, a .power driven rotary shaft,

motor meansfor rotating-said shaft throu ghiapproximately 'half .revolutions, selector switch means for controlling the rotation of saidpower shaft through half revolutions, a first crank carried by said rock shaft, spring means connected tosaid'first crank andbeing arranged to store energy when saidfirst crank'is moved through a first "half revolution, anoverrunning clutch having approximately a one-half revolution free rotation operatively interposed between said motor means andsaid shaft, 2. second crank carrie'd by said shaft, a second overrunning clutch'inter J-pose'd between said second crank and; said shaft and-having approximately a half revolution 'free rotation, linkwork mechanism operatively con- :necting-said second crank and said rock shaft and manually operablemeans'ior opening and closing said-switch means whenmove'd'inopposite 'direotions, carried' by said rock-shaft, said overrunrnng clutoh-means allowing manual op- -eration of said swith- -means independent of said 3 ,8 motor m'eans arrd allowing said :manuanyioperable m'eans to be moved in either ldire'ction independentiy of s'aid motor means.

59A switch con's'tructi'on comprising switch "means, a rock s'haft operatively connected to s'aid sun' tch means 'for 'causing opening and 010sing of s'ai'dswitoh mean's when rotat'ed in swi't'chopening an' d switch closing directions, r-espec- "tivly, manual means and power driven means each -o'pera tivly coupled to said rock 'shafit for independently rotating s'aid rock shaft in-"either direction, said po'wer driven means constituting a quick 'motion device I and "including a'r'evoluble shaft, -a power driven me her mounted on :said revoliible 'sha-ft and connected 'therewith by a iirst 10st modem means said revoluhle-shatt having a oran'k 'and being connected therewith by a second 10st motion means, said crank loeing operativel y eonneo'te'd to said rock shaft, sai'd 'firs-t and second los't motion 'means having a connection with saidshaft to allow said'revoliible shaf-t tofle'ad said power driven member and 's'aid crank to lead Said 'revoluble shaft e'ach appro'r'rimately a-half 'revolution, respectively, asec- "ond' 'erari k ri gid with said revdluble shaft, and a "spring operativly connected: to said second crank and biasing said crank -towards-a predetermined position on=one side of I said 'revoldble shaft.

3. 'W'EIN'FURT.

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4,105,116 -Scott Aug. 4, 11 914 1 123282 Harris-r"; Jan.5, 1 915 1-, 892-,534 Reynolds r Apr. :28, 1931 2,034,146 Linde Mar. 17,1936

2,145,1 10 Starr Jan. 24, 1 939 156,072 Phumlm =Apr.25, 19-39 2,240,656 Lindstrom :May :6, 11941 =2-,264 982 Johnson Bec.. 2, o1941 2i,26 4;-990 :Lindstrom et a1. Dec. '2, 1941 2,448,695 *Van Ryanas -Sept. '7, 1 48 -2",57-5,74 -Warrington. =N0v. 20, :1951

Number Country i Date 3 359,733 1 Germany Septf26, 1922 

